There is always a moment that we can look back on and say, “this is the moment it all changed for me”. As cliché as that sounds, and as much as I hate to be more of a cliché than I already am, it’s true.

That moment came for me just as I was finishing my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Sitting in my jail cell dorm room, wondering if this was really all college had to offer me—Frat party keggers, narrow-minded people, and the incessant smell of cow manure—I realized I was unhappy.

What was I to do? I was surrounded by people I loved and who loved me, sure. But no one understood my obsessions with Jane Austen or my need to write my feelings rather than express them vocally.

So I left. And it was the best decision I could have made.

Coming to Elmhurst College was an accident, joining The Leader, however, was not. I knew that I needed to be with people who enjoyed the same things that I did: writing, English, and gossiping about celebrity nonsense.

For fear of boring you and over complicating a simple message, I just want to say thank you.

Thank you to the people of The Leader that made me fall in love with writing with a journalist’s eye (Roxee, that shout-out is directed at you).

Thank you to Dr. Ron for encouraging me to come out and write for The Leader in the beginning; I don’t know how to thank you enough.

Thank you to everyone who made my time with The Leader not only a learning experience but also fun.

But mostly, thank you for making me question my own beliefs and my own strength to stand behind the truth, even if I’m afraid to make waves.

But this causes me to question my own bravery.

Why are we afraid to make an impact? To ruffle some feathers?

Our generation should be eternally grateful to grow up in a society—albeit far from perfect—where we can fight for what we believe in. And we must do so: fight for our happiness and the happiness of others.

Do I dare disturb the universe? Do you?

My parents shivered under the umbrella of shrapnel, shielding their eyes from the blasts. Grenade shillings shattered in the air and pierced the concrete walls of Sarajevo’s war-torn buildings. Roofs were on fire, dead men and women strewn across the outdoor marketplace amongst the apples and rice they were selling. Blazes. Screams. Gunshots. A one-way ticket to Chicago. A sole suitcase packed with both of their belongings. A new place to call home.

My roots are planted firmly in this land of blood and sacrifice. My parents, Bosnian refugees who escaped the genocide scarred and traumatized, created a life for me that they could have never imagined for themselves. Born in the bustling city of Chicago and raised in a quiet Western suburb, I never longed for anything. I did not know what it meant to live “without,” and my parents did everything to make sure I succeeded in school.

My mom would constantly cry. I remember her crying over the bad grades I got, over the amazing comments my teachers left on my papers, over the pictures of me in my high school graduation cap and gown. When I was younger, I thought her tears were wasted. “What was she crying about, anyway?”

I resented her tears. I was always a good student, but I was never involved in extracurricular activities or clubs. She cried about that, too. It felt like I would never be able to make her happy. I told myself she didn’t know what school was like. After all, she had only finished the fifth grade. It was easy to cry about something when you didn’t know how hard it was.

It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized she wasn’t crying her own tears. All of those years, she was crying the tears of generations of our disenfranchised ancestors. Of women who were beaten if they were caught with books. Of great-grandmothers who studied in secret, only to be whipped and married off when their “indecencies” were discovered. My mom was crying because she had finally raised the first generation of our family who was openly intelligent, successful, and educated.

My time at Elmhurst College is not just my story. It is my family’s success story. It is my nation’s success story. Being an English major was never easy, but despite feeling lost at times, I found myself amongst the chaos. Like my parents before me, I found my way home.

That is why I chose to use my voice at The Leader. As a feature writer, I write for others. I write to tell stories other people want to tell. I often find myself speechless when I complete a story; there is something godly about writing another person’s experiences down and presenting them with the finished product. It’s like the power of creation is completely your own and you can change the world with one swipe of your pen.

If you are an avid Youtube-obsessor, or honestly if you’ve looked at Twitter at all the past week, you’ll know that sister influencer, James Charles, 19, has been dragged by fellow Youtuber Tati Westbrook, 37. This internet feud started after Charles accepted a paid sponsorship from a vitamin brand, Sugar Bear Hair, which is in direct competition to former friend and mentor, Tati’s vitamin brand, Halo Beauty. Amidst all the beauty community drama, Westbrook unloaded some information about Charles’ personal life, insinuating the he is using his power and celebrity status to sexually manipulate men. Whether or not the allegations are true, I don’t know, but I do know that with gossip this juicy, studying for finals is the last thing on my mind.

“Archie” glad she finally had her baby?

On May 6, weighing seven pounds and three ounces, a new royal baby was born. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed the birth of their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Although it seems that Meghan has been watching far too much “Riverdale” in regards to that name, we (meaning all of us Sussex stans) couldn’t be more thrilled for them. I know for everyone it felt as though Meghan Markle had been pregnant for eons, but that is in due to the fact that she was late. Because Archie is seventh in line for the throne, the new parents have decided to raise him as normal and plebe-like as possible. I’m not sure how normal your life can be living on the grounds of one of England’s largest castles, but A for effort, you two.

The Saint, the Psalm, and Northern Chicago

We’ve got baby fever over here at The Leader (or maybe it’s just me) so let’s keep this baby announcement train a’movin’. On May 9, super couple Kim Kardashian-West and husband Kanye West, hilariously referred to as “Kimye”, welcomed their new son, Psalm. As this is her second child delivered via surrogacy, Kim took to Instagram on Mother’s Day saying that, “Beautiful Mother's Day; with the arrival of our fourth child; We are blessed beyond measure; We have everything we need." Other than the odd choice of name, I’m sure Psalm will be just as adorable as every other Kardashian baby, all 273 of them.

“Winning EC on the Rise was one of my biggest accomplishments, I think, in college. It’s exciting.”

“part of me says yes! I’m done! But part of me says how am I gonna survive and leave an impact and be great?”

“It is bittersweet because I’ve spent four years here and have made such great friends. But I know those friends will continue throughout life.”

“I think what I’ll miss the most is the easy access of seeing all my friends… Lately we’ve been venturing down the youtube rabbit hole where we watch one video then go down. Just things like that, it’s so easy to text them and be like see you in three minutes.”

“It’s definitely bittersweet. I am excited for the next chapter, but at the same time I feel like I blanked and four years flew by. Everyday is kind of just like, How many good-byes do I have to say today? What can I do today that I haven’t done in four years?”

Lizzo’s new release, “Cuz I Love You”,is an electrifying set of powerful performances that are sure to dominate the coming summer playlists.

The 11-song album consists of just over 30 minutes of compelling funk instrumentals, broad R&B arrangements, and driving rap and hip-hop tracks. Lizzo’s unique vocals cut through each mix, and her talent is indeed what sets this album a cut above the rest.

Track after track, there is something here for everyone, and each song has an uplifting or relatable human touch to it.The subject matter revolves around the externals and internals of love—in other words, the yearning of lost love with an overarching theme of self-love.

With the first track, the ears are treated to a passionate wail at the very top of Lizzo’s range. Thundering brass and electric drums are paired with vintage kit samples and quaint piano chords.

This title track speaks of Lizzo’s sudden desire to be with one particular person—a renaissance of emotion and feelings that can only be echoed through her powerful vocal approach and almost overwhelming accompaniment.

The opening track presents a powerful expression of one’s self and sets the tone for the rest of the album.

Lizzo’s outpouring of love for others isn’t the only kind of love stitched throughout “Cuz I Love You”. The other side of that same coin is one of self-love and empowerment.

Lizzo injects a much-needed dose of girl power in “Like A Girl”, which contrasts the title track with a mix of low bass and pinging hi-hats and a colorful palate of melody, which dances through the high frequencies.

This track is the first of many to highlight the strength she finds in being a woman in our innately patriarchal society. “Like A Girl” is about transcending those fictionally conditioned barriers we see in society.

Another facet of the self-love motif is Lizzo’s case for body positivity. In many of her tracks she sings and raps about how much she loves her body, and how it’s no one’s business but her own.

In “Tempo”, Lizzo drops the bass low again and spits over a darker accompaniment; this track also happens to feature one of Lizzo’s proclaimed biggest influences, Missy Elliot.

The two express their sex appeal through their love of themselves; a liquid and chilling confidence radiates from their performances and continues to empower with each listen.

“Cuz I Love You”is a great collection of bangers and beauty, with standout production and stunning performances from start to finish. It’s a no-filler set of strong singles that demonstrate the depth and variety of Lizzo’s talents, and it’s sure to strike a chord with any of its so musical moments.

In her 3rd studio album, Lizzo is all about making the world know that, yes, she is a powerful woman, and any woman can shatter these barriers regardless of what a man says or thinks.

I don’t want to speak too soon and call this a straight-up “Bohemian Rhapsody” clone, but it sure looks like one. By the looks of the trailer it hopes to follow the same beats as last year’s frustratingly crap Queen biopic, boringly gliding through the artist’s greatest hits, showing a montage for each, vaguely but never unflatteringly highlighting what was going on in the artist’s life… Rinse and repeat. From the trailer, the visual invention is not going far beyond what you could watch for free in Vevo music videos. Stay home for this one.

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“Aladdin” (May 22)

Prediction: Bad

Get out of here with this bull. It is transparent that all that Disney is doing is digging up the graves of its past properties and making them look somehow even worse with live action treatment. Will Smith’s Genie looks like a horrifying mistake. Nothing is worse than a boring movie, and this new Aladdin looks like it would bore even children. Do your and yours a favor and dust off your VHS copy of the original.

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“Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (May 29)

Prediction: Good

Critically, the 2014 “Godzilla” was applauded for its deft grasp of tension and tone, two things that are hard to maintain in a giant monster action movie. I thought it was very badass, but I had to agree with the admittedly apt complaint the fans had: “there’s not enough Godzilla in this Godzilla movie!” Director Michael Dougherty aims to remedy this by having Godzilla go fisticuffs with his rival Ghidorah, and from the trailers, their clash looks freaking epic and worthy of the big screen. Starring Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”) and Vera Farmiga (“Bates Motel”).

Extra: Cannes Film Festival Radar

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“A Hidden Life” (May 15)

Prediction: Divisive

This is probably the most anticipated film of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Infamously polarizing filmmaker Terrence Malick, who won the 2011 Palme d’Or for “The Tree of Life”, returns to the festival with this German-Austrian period piece. Little is known about it, but what has been teased is that this is Malick’s grand return to focused, plot-driven films (ever since his shocking 1998 film “The Thin Red Line”, Malick has been making giant films with arthouse aesthetics). “A Hidden Life” is more than likely to frustrate and bore viewers who are not acclimated to Malick’s style of long, contemplative cinema, but for fans, this is one probably worth anticipating.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), an initiative begun by producer Kevin Feige in 2008, has spawned 22 superhero films in the last decade. A quarter of those have been memorable, but only two have been great films. The first is last year’s “Black Panther”, and the second is undoubtedly “Avengers: Endgame”. There’s no two ways about this: the touchdown has been scored.

After watching the severely disappointing and egregiously “tune-in-next-time” splattered “Infinity War”, I feared that the MCU’s master plan had finally gone off the rails. “Infinity War” is not a good film. It may be entertaining and very satisfying in spots, but it has no conception of giving the audience a real, tangible reward for what they’ve invested. The screenwriting mentality of “Infinity War” can be summed up in a single sentence: “Why give fans what they’ve been waiting for when we can spend 20 minutes fixing Thor’s hammer?” Even the ending, replete with Game of Thrones-scale unexpected deaths, left a lingering skepticism in every viewer’s mind: “yeah, but Spider-man and the Guardians have another movie coming out, so…”

It felt like one big cheat.

“Endgame” is the antithesis of a letdown. It is a three hour jaw-dropper. There is no more time left to waste. Every minute of screentime is put to emotional, bizarre, wickedly fun use.

The first chunk of this film is a surprisingly intimate portrait of all of the remaining key Avengers (Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Cap, Iron Man, Hulk, the Raccoon), dressed down and looking thoroughly unheroic, coping with the misery Thanos has left the galaxy in. Thanos (Josh Brolin) got exactly what he wanted when he snapped his fingers: a healthier, spryer world, one less at risk for eventual disintegration. But the mass genocide has left everybody feeling ripped apart and alone.

There are still series staple quips and entertaining writing, but directors Joe and Anthony Russo allow for many moments of examination. It is uncomfortable seeing these once immovable forces now inconsolable with guilt. This is the first Avengers film to give off the genuine feeling that this team is, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health; a family.

So when something (that will not be spoiled here) kickstarts the action, the tension is at a fever pitch. In a way that makes no sense yet still somehow works, the characters unlock time travel with the goal of assembling all of the infinity stones before Thanos begins looking for them. To do this, they need to locate the stones in a reckless timeline, which places them at pivotal moments throughout the series.

This is less a movie and more of a giant, overwhelming reunion concert. These scenes are, let’s face it, fan service, but screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely dodge repetition by finding entertaining, unpredictable ways for the future Avengers to interact with the past. The bulk of the film is spent exploring the wacky intricacies of time travel, and even though the conceit falls apart the second you begin to deconstruct it, everybody who is buying a ticket to this film knows they are not sitting down to watch a three hour logic festival.

All of the cast are acting their asses off, and without exception, everybody gets the job done. You can see on their faces a thinly veiled melancholy that this really is all coming to an end. All the fan favorites get ample time to strut their stuff, but the MVPs of the show are Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.

Now that “Black Panther” has lifted the embargo on not nominating MCU blockbusters for significant awards, it’s likely that Downey Jr. will receive a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance. He is having as much fun as ever, but he is also heartbreakingly vulnerable. The composed, word-salad-spouting, billionaire Playboy has been stripped away and put to rest. The post-Thanos Iron Man isn’t Iron Man at all: Stark is weary and tired of pretending to have all of the answers. He’s sensitive, unbalanced, and most shockingly, humbled. He understands how much of this is his fault, and not once throughout the film does he toot his own horn the way he has in past Avengers flicks. This is the most human we have ever seen the man who started this series off back in 2008.

Watching ScarJo finally get a chance to shine is the film’s strongest asset. She has always struggled to be taken seriously in this universe. She’s been overly sexualized, poorly written (every other word some kind of cringy innuendo, i.e., “No more two piece bikinis!” in “The Winter Soldier” or all the forgettable flirting with Hulk/Captain America), and flat out ignored just when her development was going somewhere (think about how much traumatizing yet fascinating information we’ve gleaned about her over the series, just to never get brought up again). This is one of Johansson's best performances, and Black Widow is the film’s bravest and most inspiring hero.

If you have been eagerly anticipating this film, you have nothing left to fear. It’s better than good. It’s mind blowing. It’s tear-jerking. It’s gleefully, vibrantly entertaining. It’s long yet never overcooked. As wretched as some of the films are (the “Iron Man” sequels and “Thor” are notretroactively redeemed by this), the cumulative effect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is overwhelming.

The fatigue of years of cliffhangers is gone. This is the dream the series has always aspired to having. It harkens back to a time when seeing a long, star-studded movie wasn’t a chore or daunting commitment, but an event that everybody clammers to talk about when it’s finished. “Endgame” is the most immense movie of the year in sheer content, and as an emotional trip, it’s a bonafide thrill.

If millennial trends appeal to you, but you don’t want to appear too basic, try this avocado fry recipe that makes the basic millennial inside you squeal, but lets the fake outer you pretend to be cultured.

Ingredients

2 large unripe avocados peeled, pitted, and sliced into 8 pieces

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of pepper

1 egg

1 tbsp of milk

1 1/2 cups of tortilla chips, crushed

3/4 tsp of cumin

1/8 tsp of cayenne

1/4 tsp of paprika

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Mix egg and milk in one bowl and spices and crushed chips in a separate bowl

Coat the avocado slices in the egg/milk bowl, then coat each slice with the spices and crushed chips from the second bowl

After the colossal failure of the 2016 action movie “The Great Wall”, Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou looks to make a huge comeback with “Shadow”, a historical drama that has already received rave reviews from around the world. Expect the return of Yimou’s awe-inspiring fight choreography and visual mastery that made films like “Hero” and “House of Flying Daggers” international sensations.

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“Long Shot” (May 3)

Prediction: Okay

From the trailer of this romantic comedy about a Presidential candidate (Charlize Theron) falling in love with a reporter (Seth Rogen), Jonathan Levine’s latest seems genuinely sweet, if not a bit formulaic. It’s not clear if Rogen will be playing his usual bumbling stoner or if he will be aiming somewhat higher, but the best can always be expected of Charlize Theron, one of the finest actresses out there.

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“The Hustle” (May 10)

Prediction: Meh

After the respectable success of this year’s “Isn’t It Romantic”, the delightful Rebel Wilson will soon be back in theaters for a heist film about two con artists that become partners, co-starring Anne Hathaway. “The Hustle” has great talent supporting it, but the question is whether the film itself will rise to their level, and from the looks of the lame jokes in the trailer, the odds are not promising.

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“Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” (May 10)

Prediction: Divisive

This is the first live action Pokémon movie, and it looks a little terrifying. Every major Pokémon from the popular anime and videogame series is represented, and from the trailers, some look adorable, like Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds). But there are others that are mind-bogglingly freaky, like the menacing-looking Psyduck and the taunting, nightmarish expression on Mr. Mime’s face. The production value looks stellar, and the whole package could very well be one of 2019’s most satisfying family films, but it could also be a disaster the likes of which we’ve never seen. Devotees of the series already know they’ll be seeing it, but for the casual moviegoer, Detective Pikachu will probably not be their cup of tea.

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“John Wick: Chapter 3” (May 17)

Prediction: Excellent

The last two John Wick movies were amazing. They were popular action movies that had the decency to tell an interesting story about a former hitman while still being jaw-droppingly violent and extremely badass. These movies are a cross between “Mortal Kombat” and “The Raid”, and this third entry promises to the titular character’s biggest, craziest, most ambitious adventure yet.

With the news of Ripper Crew killer Thomas Kokoraleis’ release from prison, a member of the sadistic cult suspected of slaying as many as 18 women, including in our very own Elmhurst, here’s five cases that you never figured would have happened in Elmhurst or nearby neighborhoods:

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1. ‘Ripper Crew’ Murders.

Dubbed the “Ripper Crew” in a nod to London’s Jack the Ripper serial killer who slayed women in the 1880s, this satanic four man cult prowled the Chicago area in the 80s for unsuspecting females and ate their victims’ body parts. In 1982, police uncovered that these men committed up to 18 sexually motivated homicides, one of those victims being 21-year-old Elmhurst resident Lorraine Borowski. One man responsible for the crimes was sentenced to death in 2003 while two others face life-imprisonment. The fourth convicted murderer, Thomas Kokoraleis, who is now 58, was released to Aurora on March 29.

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2. Tylenol Murders

In September 1982, seven people from the Chicago suburbs, including Elmhurst, fell victim to poisoning by consuming cyanide-laced Tylenol. While FBI investigations found evidence of drug tampering, which occurred during the distribution process, the perpetrator who poisoned the pills was never named or found. The Tylenol terror, which frightened the nation for weeks and gained widespread publicity, influenced copycat crimes over subsequent years.

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3. The Killer Clown: John Wayne Gacy.

Between 1972 and 1978, serial killer John Wayne Gacy orchestrated the murders of 33 young men and boys in Norwood Park. Gacy became known as the infamous “Killer Clown” because he would host community get-togethers and dress up as as a clown to entertain children. In 1978, the disappearance of a high school student led to Gacy. When his place of residence was searched, police uncovered several corpses buried on the property. Gacy was immediately arrested and executed in 1994 by lethal injection. While the “Killer Clown” was found guilty for all 33 murders, six of his victims still remain unidentified to this day.

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4. Bitcoin Murder-For-Hire Case

In 2018, a former Loyola University Medical Center nurse, Tina Jones, was accused of hiring a hitman through the dark web for nearly $11,000 in bitcoin to murder her former lover’s wife. The case had been uncovered through an investigation carried out by a CBS program into an illegal service website. The team had noticed a posting for the murder of a clinical social worker in Naperville and immediately involved local authorities. In the spring of 2018, an Illinois judge ruled that Jones must wear a GPS monitoring device as she resides in her parents’ home. If Jones is found guilty, she can face up to 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

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5. Lesbian Love Triangle

In a case that made national headlines because of its intriguing nature, Villa Park resident, Nicole Abusharif, 32, was charged with first-degree murder on July 14, 2009, after being convicted of the murder of long-time partner Rebecca Klein, 28. Klein was killed on March 15, 2007 after being smothered with a plastic bag and bound with duct tape. Abusharif claims to have been in an open-relationship with Klein and was seeing a 20-year-old woman on the night of the murder. During trial, Abusharif denied playing any part in the death of her long-time partner.

Coming in at the no. 1 spot of the US Billboard 200, it is simply put that Billie Eilish’s debut full-length, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?”, has been nothing short of a commercial and critical success. Weighing in with a Metacritic score of 81/100, the album is considered to have universal critical acclaim—and for a number of good reasons.

This album, clocking in at just over 42 minutes, defies pop genre standards. Much of the production was handled by her older brother, Finneas, 21, while Billie, 17, is noted with almost all of the composition credits on the record.

Admittedly, her brother has a strong history for writing hit music and has appeared in popular shows such as Fox’s “Glee”and ABC’s “Modern Family”. The family is no stranger to fame, which I believe stands a chance to corrupt the art.

But Finneas is only credited with writing two songs, those being “when the party’s over” and “my strange addiction”. The rest I am inclined to believe are spawned from Eilish’s own mind and talent.

This deep, dark-pop journey packs in stellar production and writing, which is often clever, poisonously self-aware, and at times surprisingly mature despite the youthful image Eilish has developed since she first appeared on the scene.

Some stand out tracks on the album are “bad guy”and “xanny”, as well as “all good girls go to hell”, “wish you were gay”, “my strange addiction”, and “bury a friend”. Front to back, “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?”pitches a change of pace to the genre and demographic of popular music starting with Eilish’s musical direction and ending with the vulnerableness she exposes through her the words of her songs.

Much of the subject matter surrounding the albumis about emotional trauma, the avoidance of substances, love, masochism, death, and the like.

Pop music that revolves around these topics are so often conflated with expectations and schemes to create something fairly manufactured-sounding. Where this album breaks what is typical of the pop genre is through the cleverness of the lyricism and the atypical effects and samples.

In an interview with The New York Times,Eilish reveals that she recorded the noises from one of her orthodontist appointments and used it in the track “bury a friend”.

The performances across the album also demonstrate Eilish’s range, in one moment singing across thundering bass and trance in “bad guy”to serendipitously stitching ballad-like melody in the next track, “xanny”.

Suffice to say, the album is a complete piece of work and succeeds in its delivery without a single bad track. My only concern is, how on earth does Eilish plan to top this resounding success?

Just two years after their gorgeous outdoor wedding, “Pitch Perfect” stars Anna Camp and Skylar Astin have separated. When their relationship began in June of 2013, all of us were decidedly annoyed that he had chose his absolutely beautiful co-star and not us (or was that just me?) However, paradise seems to have ended quicker than the “Pitch Perfect” franchise itself. On Friday, April 19, the former couple issued a comment to People saying: “We can confirm that we have decided to separate, and this decision was made mutually and amicably. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this transition.” Now that Skylar Astin is getting divorced, do you think it’d be aca-awkward if I slid into those DMs? Let me know.

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Orange is the new (Kodak) Black

The prodigal rapper has returned and with a few felonies under his belt to boot! After some shady business with a cancelled concert on Wednesday night and the mysterious disappearance of Kodak Black, the gossip websites have been in a tizzy trying to find him to get the scoop. Where in the world is Kodak Black? Well, Mr. Black was at the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge border getting arrested for the possession of drugs and guns with an intent to bring them into the country. Yikes. However, the real kicker of the story is that Black is now blaming his GPS for accidentally directing him into Canada. You can’t make this shit up, people.

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April showers bring more drama

Can’t this just end already? The two most overrated people in the celebrity sphere seem to duking it out over the coveted date “April 26”. On April 13, Taylor Swift posted a very vague picture of a glittering, pink, diamond-encrusted heart with the caption “4.26”. Now that sounds like a teaser for an important event; I don’t think she posted that because she finds the number combination aesthetically pleasing. In a post to her own instagram, which has curiously been deleted, Kim Kardashian, law student and longtime frenemy of Swift, announced the launch of her new fragrance collection collab with sister, Kylie Jenner, which will be released on, you guessed it, April 26. Now, this could all just be some great coincidence, and it will all blow over soon. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready for another diss-track from the queen of “writing about your feelings and exposing everyone along the way”. So we’ll see.

The first thing we see in Eva Husson’s “Girls of the Sun” is a world enveloped in ash; all of the noise choked out by the thickness of the chaos. The atmosphere is apocalyptic. We are then shown a pure blue sky as a mushroom cloud from a bomb slowly rises up, as though devouring any trace of peace, even in the heavens.

This is a war film, and Husson doesn’t introduce us to warfare the way other filmmakers would (with audible explosions and gunshots); we are instead thrust into a casket of oppression, where violence is not exciting, but horrifyingly near.

This is made doubly clear by the story, which is about a group of Kurdish women attempting to liberate their town (located in an unspecified region in Kurdistan) from invading extremists. Their husbands have been killed, their daughters sold into sex slavery, and their sons kidnapped to become child soldiers. They call themselves the “Girls of the Sun” battalion. They are led by Bahar (Golshifteh Farahani) and accompanied by a French journalist, Mathilde (Emmanuelle Bercot), who has also been traumatized by senseless violence.

As they fight for their freedom, we flashback to when Bahar was a wife and mother and the horrifying events that left her no other choice but to become a soldier and leader. These are the roughest and most excruciating portions of the film, but they are also the best. The unravelling of Bahar’s life by the extremists is shattering. Farahani excellently shows Bahar’s transformation from ordinary person to absolute warrior in every second of screen time she has. Farahani, who was also terrific in the 2016 Jim Jarmusch film “Paterson”, is a thrilling actress.

But Bahar is not always the film’s focus because it is only through Mathilde that the viewer gets to spend time with the film’s most interesting character. Mathilde is the way that the film chooses to bring us to the battlefield, which seems pointless when the viewer realizes the film could have just been about Bahar all along, sans Mathilde. Mathilde’s subplot of guilt and abandonment isn’t where the story belongs. Simply put, whenever the film chooses to focus on the reporter, the film wastes valuable time it could be using to devote itself to the warrior.

“Girls of the Sun” wants the viewer to stop hiding their attention from the genocides happening around the world. Husson sees war as a disease that rips through millions of communities, no matter where, and her sensitive and powerful direction express this mightily when she devotes herself to Farahani’s fierce, weary, soulful character.

This is a story about badass women fighting to get their lives and identities back. The stellar cinematography by Mattias Troelstrup avoids framing them as wretched and joyless, wisely opting to give them space to express their personalities.

This is an undercooked epic; a very decent film, but one that is all too infrequently moving. It has all the makings of an instant classic, but it doesn’t allow its best narratives and most complex characters enough time to help this rise to the level of tragedy the way movies like “Beasts of No Nation” (2015) and “Incendies” (2010) did.

Famously known as Hannah Montana’s dad (not so famously known for his career in country music,) Billy Ray Cyrus, 57, is featured on Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road - Remix”. This country-trap song that quickly took over the Billboard’s Hot Country chart just as quickly fell off. In an attempt to save face, Lil Nas X, 20, recruited the “Achy Breaky Heart” crooner to record on this quintessential country song about women and horses. Cyrus took to Twitter to fill us all in on his take on the song and how it will impact country music: “I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook, and a banjo. What the hell more do ya need?” I think I need another season of Hannah Montana instead of this weird cameo, that’s what.

Spoilers are Coming

Maisie Williams, better known as Arya Stark from the global sensation that is the “Game of Thrones” series gave fans somewhat of a shock during her interview with Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”. As this is the final season of a series that is famous for its blatant disregard for the lives of its own characters, fans are not-so-patiently waiting to know the fate of their favorite storylines. After blurting out that her character Arya would be dying in the second episode of the season, a very uncomfortable few minutes ensued that involved Williams running off stage and Fallon to be more awkward than he usually is. Fortunately for GoT fans it was just an April Fools joke and everyone went home happy. But, like, is this some kind of reverse psychology scheme and she actually DOES die? So many questions.

And the Bride wore Marc Jacobs

Designer Marc Jacobs, 55, got hitched on April 6th to former model Charly “Char” Defrancesco. Although it has been dubbed an “intimate ceremony” by E! News, it is safe to say that us plebes want to know all of the “intimate” details about that star-(not rhinestone)-studded guest list for the reception held at the Grill Room in New York City. It’s not too surprising to see top models such as Cindy Crawford, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kate Moss show up in their finest designer couture. Queen and all around legend Anna Wintour also made an appearance in, yes, her signature black-tinted sunglasses. Between the A-List guests and what I would imagine to be a stunning ceremony, this may be the wedding of the year.